The victory over Laos ensured Vietnam finished top of Group B. They went on to lose 2-0 to Indonesia in the semi-finals.

Corruption is widespread throughout Vietnamese society and has hit professional football particularly hard.

Vietnam’s pro league has been dogged by allegation of graft for much of the past decade.

In October, wealthy club owners mounted a coup against the state-controlled VFF, essentially agreeing to privatize the sport from next year amid concerns over corruption that threatened to fatally undermine the popularity of the local league.